911 director: New $5M dispatch center would address security issues

Dispatcher Nikki Wagner, center, and fellow staff members of Livingston County 911 Central Dispatch in Howell handle emergency calls Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017. Plans are in the works to build a new facility just west of the existing building.(Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)Buy Photo

Livingston County 911 Director Chad Chewning said a new 911 Central Dispatch building would improve security and allow dispatchers to keep working during emergency scenarios.

The current building does not meet Department of Defense standards, according to county officials.

It would cost an estimated $5 million to construct a new building in the parking lot west of the current building on S. Highlander Way in Howell, add more security features and demolish the old one to make room for new parking space. It would be paid for with 911 Central Dispatch funds.

If county officials give the construction project final approval, Chewning said construction would begin next year and the new center would be put into operation in 2019.

Chewning said building security "falls short" in several ways.

He said a new building would be built to withstand the impact of an F-3 or F-4 tornado, and in the event of severe weather and other emergency scenarios, 911 dispatchers could continue to work from their consoles.

“The 911 center is the backbone of our operations in the event of a catastrophic situation”

Livingston County Commissioner Dennis Dolan

"In the current building, if we have severe weather, our staff has to leave the floor into tornado shelters," he said.

Chewning declined to speak publicly about all of the building's security issues.

He said one problem is the site lacks a security fence to keep the public away.

County Commissioner Dennis Dolan, chair of the county's construction committee said he has been been aware of instances "when someone has come to the building for whatever purpose and wanted to obtain entry," he said.

Dolan said remodeling the existing building is "not feasible" and that zoning regulations for set-backs would be problematic.

The 1970s building was remodeled in 1999, the year 911 Central Dispatch took occupancy. Before that it was used as a district court building.

"We've taken the existing building years ago and tried to retrofit it for the 911 system, which worked for a while, but this building is not suitable in today's world, where it's necessary to have greater security," Dolan said. "The 911 center is the backbone of our operations in the event of a catastrophic situation."

Although final architectural plans are pending, Chewning said the new building would be larger to accommodate more employees and equipment in anticipation of the county's population increasing over the next 40 years and more 911 calls.

Dolan expects the Livingston County Board of Commissioners to pass a resolution Monday approving Chewning to work with Lindhout Architects to design and engineer plans for the new building.

County officials had considered several other options, including remodeling the existing building, adding an addition to the county's EMS headquarters on Tooley Road and building a new 911 center on vacant land the county owns near the Mobile gas station at Clyde Road and U.S. 23 in Hartland Township.

A new building behind the current 911 center is the most cost-effective, Chewning said, and it would not disrupt operations as much when the day comes to move equipment and furnishing into the new space. In addition, the 911 center could keep using the same antenna.

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Livingston County's Central Dispatch building is starting to show its age in a photo taken Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017. Plans are underway to build a new facility further west on the property and raze the old building.(Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)

Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at 517-548-7148 or at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Facebook @Jen.Eberbach and Twitter at JenEberbach.